July 7, 2025, 3:45 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Salt is still considered an effective method for combating slugs in many gardens today. myHOMEBOOK explains why this approach is not a good idea for several reasons.
They attack lettuce, strawberries, or ornamental plants and can destroy entire beds: Slugs are feared by hobby gardeners, especially when they appear in large numbers. Reaching for salt seems like a quick solution for many to curb the infestation. But what seems simple at first glance is not only cruel but also harmful to soil, plants, and the environment. So why shouldn’t you salt slugs in the garden, and what effective alternatives are there against these mollusks?
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Overview
Salt against slugs as a highly controversial “home remedy”
Slugs are among the most common pests in the garden. Especially after wet springs, slugs multiply rapidly and can cause significant damage in beds and containers. Some gardeners then try to combat the animals with home remedies–including table salt. It is sprinkled directly over the slug or spread on their path, hoping to solve the problem as quickly as possible.
However, this method is absolutely not recommended for several reasons–neither ethically nor ecologically.
What happens to slugs when you salt them?
Salt draws water from the slugs through osmosis–so quickly and strongly that the animals dry out in a very short time. This process is extremely painful for the slug: It begins to shrink, desperately excretes slime, and slowly dies from dehydration.
Additionally, salting slugs violates the Plant Protection Act, as salt can harm plants. Intentionally killing slugs with salt is not only unethical but also often illegal.
Salt in the garden – why it’s harmful to soil and plants
Not only do the slugs suffer from the salt–the garden itself can also be damaged:
- Salt enters the soil and disrupts the delicate balance of microorganisms and nutrients.
- It alters the soil structure, inhibits the growth of many plants, and can lead to salinization damage.
- Vegetable plants like lettuce, cucumbers, or beans are particularly sensitive–they can even die at high salt concentrations.
- Once the soil is salted, it recovers only slowly–and often needs to be laboriously replaced if severely damaged. This effort is definitely not worth the short-term reduction of the slug infestation. Especially since the plants that are supposed to be protected by salting the slugs suffer the most.
Are there animal-friendly and plant-protecting alternatives?
Yes–there are several: Those who want to get rid of slugs in an environmentally and animal-friendly way have various options:
- Collecting: Best done early in the morning or evening when the slugs are active. Keep a bucket with a lid ready and regularly remove the animals from the bed.
- Natural barriers: Spread copper tape, lava granules, or rough materials (such as sawdust, straw, or sand) around the plants–slugs avoid the dry structure of these materials.
- Protection through mixed culture: Some plants like thyme, sage, or nasturtium have a repellent effect. They can be strategically integrated into the bed.
- Encouraging natural predators: Hedgehogs, toads, birds, or tiger slugs (a type of slug that eats other slugs) are valuable helpers in the garden.
- Plant protection with slug fences:
Slug fences made of metal or plastic effectively keep slugs away–without poison and without harming animals.
A combination of several methods is usually the most effective and sustainable.
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Copper Tape Can Effectively Repel Snails in the Garden
Conclusion: Don’t salt slugs!
As understandable as the frustration over slugs is–salt is not a solution. It is cruel to the animals, harmful to the garden soil, and dangerous to other creatures. Even pets can suffer burns on their paws when walking over salt traces. Those who instead rely on natural or mechanical methods protect not only plants and the environment but also the ecological balance in the garden.